SNC to deliver USAF’s next ‘Doomsday Plane’
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has been selected to develop the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) platform that will ultimately replace the USAF’s ageing fleet of four E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) aircraft.
Mass formation of UK helicopters deploy for Steadfast Defender
A force of 16 helicopters from the 4 Regiment Army Air Corps Battle Group (4 AAC BG) departed Wattisham Flying Station, Suffolk, for mainland Europe to take part in Exercise Steadfast Defender 24.
AMX bows out of Italian Air Force service
After 35 years of service, the Italian Air Force has retired an Italian-Brazilian tactical fighter-bomber. Daniele Faccioli and Giovanni Colla were at the farewell ceremony at the Istrana Air Base
B-52s arrive at Fairford for BTF 24-3
Two US Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bombers landed at RAF Fairford on May 20, 2024, for a bomber task force (BTF) deployment.
Viper Demo Team marks 50 years of the F-16 with retro scheme
The US Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team has unveiled a 50th anniversary paint scheme for the 2024 airshow season.The F-16C Block 50D Fighting Falcon s/n 91-0395/SW from the 55th Fighter Squadron of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina now wears a red, white and blue scheme honouring the YF-16 prototype.
Bentwaters’ T-33 restored
The Suffolk-based Bentwaters Cold War Museum announced it had finished the restoration of Lockheed T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star, 51-9252 (c/n 580-7036), in April.
New RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre opens
On May 5 the new RAF Sculthorpe Heritage Centre held its opening ceremony in an event attended by around 1,000 people including members of the USAF’s 95th Reconnaissance Squadron.
New scheme for Spitfire G-ILDA
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX, G-ILDA/SM520, has received a new paint scheme honouring the heritage of RAF Westhampnett (now Goodwood Aerodrome) and a veteran Battle of Britain pilot closely connected with the aircraft’s owner, Spitfires.com
North East Land, Sea and Air Museums receive 100 Sqn Hawk
On May 13, 2024, a ceremony was held at the North East Land, Sea and Air Museums (NELSAM) to unveil a former 100 Sqn RAF Hawk T1 as a new exhibit.
Tiger Meet participants announced
This year’s NATO Tiger Meet will be hosted by Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 at Schleswig Air Base in northern Germany from June 3 to June 13.
Your source for all the latest Airforce and military aircraft news
As the latest fifth-generation platform, the Lockheed Martin F-35 is in use globally for international partner airforces, from the United States Airforce (USAF) to the RAF and the Australian airforce, the sixth-generation fighters are already on the drawing board.
Find out which airforces are looking at virtual cockpits, networked platforms and piloted aircraft working with drone wingmen for the stealth fighters of the 2030s and discover which airforces are planning to replace their existing fleets with the fighter planes of the future.
Military Aircraft Retirement and Technology Updates
International forces around the world are deploying military aircraft manufactured in France, Russia and America including aircraft from Saab, France’s Dassault Rafale, Russian Mig-29s and the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, which it will operate for years to come.
What will also be flying well into the next decade is the USAF’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter. The next decade will also see the USAF’s newest stealth bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider enter service, while the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber will be in its seventh decade of operational service after refurbishments and restorations. This page is the only place you need to be to find out all the latest news on retirements and new deployments.
Be the first to find out which existing platforms such as France’s Dassault Mirage 2000 light weight jet and the Eurofighter Typhoon are facing the need for wholesale technology updates. The Eurofighter is being upgraded for an electronic warfare role in the 2020s and the USAF is improving some of its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons with F-35 fifth generation technology.
From restorations to retirement and procurement, international projects for new networked technologies including piloted and autonomous platforms and the contracts to manufacture them, all of this fast-moving defence aviation news and analysis can be found here.
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